Carrying carton



March 5, 1957 E. HODAPP CARRYING CARTON Filed Oct. 25, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 5, 1957 A. E. HODAPP CARRYING CARTON 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 23, 1953 March 5,1957

A. E. HODAPP CARRYING CARTON 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. '23, 1953 Uited States Patent C CARRYING CARTON Armand E. Hodapp, Western Springs, 111., assignor to' Chicago Carton Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application Gctober 23, 1953, Serial No. 387,855

1t) Claims. (Cl. 220-113) This invention relates to carrying cartons, and more particularly to carrying cartons designed for storing or transporting a plurality of bottles or the like.

The main objects of the invention are to provide a carrying carton of the type indicated which may be erected from a flat, knocked-down form to operative form and locked in said operative form; to provide a carrying carton having an interior which is divided into a plurality of compartments and having a pair of hinged cover panels, each of which may be adjusted so as to generally enclose or so as to aiford access to a portion of the interior of the carton; to provide a strong and durable carrying carton which will withstand the severe and rough treatment which occurs in the normal course of its use and re-use; to provide a strong and durable carrying carton which may be made from a blank of the selected sheet material with a minimum waste incident to cutting of the blank from a sheet of the selected material; to provide a carrying carton which is adapted to be folded flat when packed for shipment or stored for future use; to provide a carrying carton having a novel cover construction; to provide a carrying carton having a bottom locking structure which maintains the bottom Wall of the carton in a generally elevated position with respect to the lower edges of the side and end walls of the carton; to provide a carrying carton formed from a single paperboard blank, wherein all of the outer surfaces of the carton are derived from the same face of the blank; to provide such a carton which can be made at a high rate of production on conventional folding carton-making machinery; and in general, it is the object of the invention to provide an improved carrying carton of the aforesaid character.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein a selected embodiment of the invention is exemplified in the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a die-cut blank employed in the fabrication of the present carrying carton, the blank being illustrated in preliminary creased, slitted, and glued condition;

Figures 2 and 3 are plan views illustrating the blank following further folding and gluing operations;

Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating the completed carrying carton in its folded, collapsed condition;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the carrying carton in erected condition, the carrying carton being shown with one of its cover panels in closed position and the other of its cover panels in partially open position;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view through the center of the carrying carton with one of its cover panels in closed position and the other of its cover panels in partially open position;

Figure 7 is a partial enlarged sectional view of the carrying carton taken along line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the carrying carton "ice with the cover panels locked in vertical position; and Figure 9 is a partial enlarged sectional view of the carrying carton taken along line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Referring to Figure l of the drawings, the reference numeral 15 designates a blank of flexible paperboard or cardboard stock of suitable thickness, which may be formed into the carrying carton of the present invention. The blank 15 is generally sub-divided into two sections 17 and 19 which are, for the most part, symmetrical with respect to a central, longitudinally extending fold line 21. The fold line 21 is centrally interrupted by a slot 23 which is adapted, when the carton is erected, to form part of a locking structure, the function of which will hereinafter appear. In view of the symmetrical character of the two sections 17 and 19, the same reference numerals will be used to designate corresponding parts on the two sections.

The central fold line 21 and slot 23 extend medially of a rectangular bottom wall panel 25 of the blank 15, thereby dividing the same into two similar, generally rectangular bottom wall sections 27. The bottom wall panel 25 is connected to side Wall panels 29 through fold lines 31 which extend parallel to the fold line 21. Each of the side wall panels 29 is connected to end wall panels 33 and 35 through fold lines 37 and 39, re-

spectively, the fold lines 37 and 39 being disposed at opposite ends of and normal to the fold lines 31. The side wall panels 29 are also connected to inclined partition strips 41 and 43 through fold lines 45 and 47, respectively, the fold lines 45 and 47 being disposed parallel to the fold lines 37 and 39.

The inclined partition strips 41 and 43 are also connected to partition wall reinforcing panels 49 through fold lines 51 and 53, respectively, the fold lines 51 and 53 being in line with the fold lines 37 and 45, respectively.

Each of the end wall panels 35 is connected to agenerally rectangular partition wall panel 55 through a fold 7 neck portion 63 which is slightly shorter than the slot 7 23 and which connects the head portion 61 with the adjoining partition wall panel 55. The inner edges of the head portions 61 of the locking members 59 constitute transverse locking shoulders 65 which are adapted in the erected carrying carton to engage portions of the bottom surface of the bottom wall panel 25 adjacent the slot 23 for maintaining the carrying carton in erected position and for maintaining the bottom wall panel 25 in a generally elevated position relative to the lower edges of the side wall panels 29.

Each of the partition wall panels 55 is connected with a generally rectangular cover panel 67 through a fold line 69 which is parallel to the central fold line 21. The

cover panels 67 are each divided into cover sections 71 V and 73 by an intermediate fold line 75 which is parallel to the fold lines 69. The cover sections 73 are each provided with suitably spaced slits 77 which extend inwardly from its outer edge in a direction normal to the fold lines 75. The corresponding slits 77 on the two cover sections 73 are adapted, when the blank 15 is formed into a carrying carton, to cooperate with each other in a manner which will be more fully explained hereinafter, for locking the cover panels 67 together in face-to-face relation ship, and also, to engage the partition strips 41 and 43 for maintaining the cover panels 67 in closed position. To facilitate the entrance of the partition strips 41 and agrspte 43 into the slits 77, the outer margins of the cover sections 73 are provided with V-shaped notches 79 adjacent the entrance ends of the slits 77.

One of the end wall panels 33 is connected with a tab member 81 through a fold line 83 which is parallel to the fold line 37 and the other of the end wall panels 33 is connected to a partition wall panel 85, which is similar to the partition wall panels 55, through a fold line 87 which is parallel to the fold line 37. The partition wall panel 85 includes a locking member 89 which is similar to the locking members 59 on the partition wall panels 55.. The locking member 89 includes a head portion 91, neck portion 93, and locking shoulders 95.

The partition wall panel 85 is connected to a handle panel 97 through a longitudinally extending fold line 99 which is parallel to the central fold line 21. The handle panel 97 includes a hand-gripping opening 101. The handle panel 97 connects with a similar handle panel 103 through a fold line 105, the handle panels 97 and 103 being symmetrical on either side of the fold line 105. The handle panel 103 includes a hand-gripping opening 107 which. is similar to the hand-gripping opening 161. The handle panel 103 is connected to a longitudinally extending tab member 1&9 through a fold line 111 which is parallel to the fold line 105.

The blank illustrated in Figure 1 is adapted to be fabricated into a carrying carton by a right angle type boxfolding and gluing machine (not shown). This type of machine has a pair of conveyors positioned at right angles to each other which propel the blank first in one predetermined direction and then in a second predetermined direction at right angles to the first direction; means for applying adhesive to selected portions of the blank as it moves along the conveyors; and folding rods or belts or the like which act against selected portions of the blank to fold them over other portions of the blank as the blank is carried along the conveyors.

The blank 15 is initially propelled on the box-forming machine in the direction of the arrow marked A in Figure l, and glue or'other adhesive is applied to the areas 113 and 115 of the upwardly facing surface of the partition wall panel 85 and handle panel 97, respectively, as indicated in Figure 1. Immediately following this operation, adhesive is applied to the area 117 of the upwardly facing surface of the tab member 81, The handle. panel 103 and tab member 109. are then folded along fold line 105, so as to bring the handle panel 103 and tab member 109 into face-to-face engagement with the handle panel 97 and the upper marginal portion of the partition wall panel 85, respectively, the panels being preferably maintained under pressure until the adhesive has-a chance to set.

As the blank continues its movement along the first conveyor of the box-forming machine, adhesive is successively applied to the area 1190a the upwardly facing surface of the partition wall reinforcing panel 49 which is adjacent the partition wall panel 85 and then to the area 121 on the upwardly facing surface of the partition Wall reinforcing panel 49 which is adjacent to the tab member 81. After this operation, the right hand portions of the blank 15 as seen in Figure 1 are folded along the fold lines 39 so as to bring the partition wall panels 55 into adhesive engagement with the partition wall reinforcing panels 49. At this point, the folded blank appears as illustrated in Figure 2.

The partition wall panel 85, handle panels 97. and 103, and tab member 169 are then folded along fold line 87 so as to bring the partition wall panel 85 into adhesive engagement with the upwardly facing surface of the adjacent partition wall panel 55. Following this, the tab member 81 is folded along fold line 83 so as to bring the tab member 81 into adhesive engagement with the upwardly facing surface of the adjacent partition wall panel 4 tothesecond conveyor of the box-forming machine, whereupon it moves in the direction indicated at B in Figure 3.

As the partially folded blank begins its movement along the second conveyor of the box'forming equipment, a coating of adhesive is applied to the area 123 on the upwardly facing surface of the partition wall panel 85. At this point, the folded blank appears as illustrated in Figure The blank is finally folded along the central fold line 21 so as to bring the upwardly facing surfaces of the tab member 81 and adjoining partition wall panel 55 into adhesive engagement with the upwardly-facing, adhesivelycoated surface of the partition wall panel 85. The carrying carton is now completely fabricated, but is in collapsed condition as illustrated in Figure 4.

The coilapsed carrying carton illustrated in Figure 4 is adapted to be erected into the carrying carton 125 illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 8. Wherever possible, the structural members of the erected carrying carton 125 are designated by the same reference numerals as the panels of the blank 15 from which they are derived.

To erect the carrying carton from the collapsed or knocked-down condition of Figure 4 to its fully erected condition, wherein it is ready to receive its intended contents, it is only necessary to grasp the upper portion of the collapsed carrying carton between the fingers of one hand. and press upwardly against the bottom of the collapsed carrying carton adjacent the central fold line 21with the other hand. The compressive force produced by this action causes the side wall panels 29 to move outwardly parallel to one another and at the-same time causes each of the end wall panels 33 and 35, and each. of the partition strips 41 and 43 to move angularly toward a transverse position with respect to the side wall panels 29. As the side .wall panels 29 move away from each other, the medial fold line 21 of the bottom wall panel 25 moves upwardly and laterally toward the lower margin of the adjoining partition Wall panels 55 and 85. As the slot 23 approaches the adjoining locking members 59 and 89, the lower surface of the bottom wall panel 25 is suitably guided so that the head portions 61 and 91 of the adjoining locking members 59 and 89 pass through the slot 23, this operation generally requiring one to move the bottom wall panel 25 laterally slightly beyond the point where the central fold line 21 underlies the adjoining partition wall panels 55 and 85. When the head portions 61 and 91 of the locking members extend completely through the slot-23, the central fold line 21 of the bottom wall panel 25 is in a slightly raisedposition relative to the lower edges of the. side wall panels 29 and end wall panels .33 and 35. When the carrying carton is released, the lateral edges of the bottom: wall panel 25 will engage the lower margins of the end wall panels 33 and 35 and maintain the. bottom wall panel 25 from moving laterally with respectto the partition wall panels 55 and 85, thereby insuring that the locking shoulders 65. and of the locking members 59 and 89 engage portions of the lower surface .of the bottom wall panel. 25. The carrying carton is then in fully erected condition. y a

The erected carrying carton 125 includes a bottom wall 25; a tubular, compartmentalized body comprising side walls 29, end walls 33 and 35 formed from end wall-panels 33 and-35, respectively; a central, multi-ply partition ,wall 127 formed from partition wall panels 55 and 85, partition wall reinforcing panels 49, tab ,members 81 and 10 9, and transverse partition strips 41 and 43; a central, upwardly extending handle 129 formed from the handle. panels and 1 03; and, a pair of cover fiaps 67. The partition wall 127 and partition strips 41 and 43 divide the. carrying carton into six compartments of substantially equalvolume. It should be understood 55. At this point, the blank comes to the end of the. first conveyor. The partially folded blank is then transferred thatthe carrying. carton could be-formed with a greater or lesser number of partition strips, thereby forming a greater or lesser number of compartments in the carrying carton.

The elevated position of the central fold line 21 of the bottom wall 25 of the carrying carton relative to the lower edges of the side walls 29 and end walls 33 and 35 causes the bottom wall 25 to slope upwardly from the side walls 29 toward Lie central fold line 21. Since the bottom wall 25 is in a slightly raised position relative to the lower edges of the side and end walls of the carrying carton, it gives a resiliency to the bottom wall panel 25 which helps to protect breakable items which may be packed within the carrying carton. For example, when the carrying carton is seated on a hard surface, frangible items could be dropped into the carrying carton without danger of breaking, or a packed carton could be casually set on a hard surface without danger of breaking the items packed within the carton.

If desired, the carrying carton may be formed so that the corresponding slits 77 on the cover flaps 67 are slightly misaligned when the cover flaps 67 are set in face-to-t'ace engagement in the manner illustrated in Figure 8. In such case, the cover flaps 67 may be locked together by moving the adjacent upper marginal portions of the combined cover flaps 67, defined by the slits 77, in opposite directions so as to cause marginal edge portions of the cover flaps 67 adjacent the slits 77 to overlap each other as illustrated in Figure 9. The

cover flaps may be unlocked by reversing this procedure.

The cover flaps 67 in the erected carrying carton may be bent along the fold lines 69 and 75 so as to guide the outer margins of the cover flaps 67 into the interior of the carrying carton. During this process, partition strips 41 and 43 will be received by and will pass into the slits 77. The frictional contact between the sides of the slits 77 and the partition strips 41 and 43 are generally suflicient to maintain the cover panels 67 in fixed position.

The handle may be folded along the adjoining fold lines 99 and 195 so as to lie horizontally along the upper surface of one of the cover sections 71 when the cover flaps 67 are in closed position. of the present'invention since it permits one to stack a plurality of closed carrying cartons one upon the other. a

It should be noted that all of the outer surfaces of the erected carton are formed from one face of the blank 15. This is an important feature because the outer surfaces of carrying cartons are commonly printed with.

advertising indicia, and it is advantageous to be able to cover all of the outer surfaces of the carrying carton by printing on only one face of the blank.

The above described carrying carton is simple and economical in construction and is readily set up from collapsed to erected condition. The carrying carton is attractive in appearance and is strong and durable so as to withstand the rough treatment which it might normally expect to encounter during the normal course of its use and re-use.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the above described carrying carton structure without departing from the principles or the intended scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A collapsible carrying carton formed from a single sheet of paperboard material comprising a bottom wall, opposed side walls foldably connected to said bottom wall along opposite edges thereof, opposed end walls extending transversely between and foldably connected to said opposed side walls at opposite ends thereof, a central, multi-ply partition wall intermediate and paralleling said side walls, said partition wail extending between and foldably connected through some of its plies to said end walls, spaced partition strips extending transversely between and foldably connected to each of said side walls and the respectively adjacent, outer plies of said partition inner plies of said partition wall, a cover flap on either.

i This is a useful feature wall intermediate said end walls, a two-ply handle ex: tending from and foldably connected to the upper edges' of inner plies of said partition wall, a cover flap on each side of said two-ply handle extending from and foldably connected to an intermediate ply of said partition wall, each of said cover flaps being provided with slits extending inwardly from its outer edge, each slit being positioned so as to receive one of said partition strips when the outer end of its associated cover flap is inserted into. the interior of said carrying carton along the adjacent connected to said bottom wall along opposite side edges thereof parallel to said medial fold line, opposed end walls extending transversely between and foldably con- I nected to said opposed side walls at opposite ends there of, a central, multi-ply partition wall extending from end to end of said carton intermediate and paralleling said side walls, said partition wall extending between and foldably connected through some of its plies to said end walls, spaced partition strips extending transversely between and foldably connected to each of said side wallsand the respectively adjacent, outer plies of said partition wall intermediate said end walls, a two-ply handle extending from andintegrally connected to the upper edges of side of said handle extending from and foldably connected to an intermediate ply of said partitionwall, each of said cover flaps being provided with slits extending inwardly from'its outer edge, each slit being positioned so as to receive one of said partition strips when the outer end of its associated cover flap is inserted into the interior of said carrying carton along the adjacent side, wall'thereof, and 'a locking member extendingfrom the lower edge of said partition wall and engaging a portion of said bottom wall so as to maintain said carrying carton in erected condition.

3. A collapsible carrying carton formed from a single sheet of paperboard material comprising a bottom wall having a medial fold line, opposed sidewalls foldably connected to said bottomwall along opposite side edges.

thereof parallel to said medial fold line, opposed end walls extending transversely between and foldably connected to said opposed side walls at opposite ends thereof, a

7 central, multi-ply partition wall extending from end to end of said carton intermediate and paralleling said side walls, said partition wall extending between and foldably connected through some of its plies to said end walls, spaced partition strips extending transversely between and foldably connected to each of said side walls and the respectively adjacent, outer plies of said partition wall intermediate said end walls, a handle extending from and foldably connected to the upper edge of at least one inner ply of said partition wall, a cover flap on either side of said handle extending from and foldably connected to an intermediate ply of said partition wall, each of said cover flaps being provided with slits extending inwardly from its outer edge, each slit being positioned so as to receive one of said partition strips when the outer end of its associated cover flap is inserted into the interior of said carrying carton along the adjacent side wall thereof, the lower edge of said partition wall terminating a short distance above the lower edge of said side and end walls, said bottom wall being provided with a slot located centrally along said medial fold line, a locking member tending through said slot, said head portion having upper V iii'rgiiinige which engage the own state at iii- 1 bottom wall along said medial fold line at points inter mediate theends thereof and adjacent to the lower edge of said partition wall, thereby maintaining the lower sur face of said bottom wall in generally elevated position relative to the bottom edges of said side and end walls.

l. A collapsible carrying carton formed from a single sheet of paperboard material comprising a bottom wall having a medial fold line, opposed side walls foldably connected to said bottom wall along opposite side edges thereof parallel to said medial fold line, oppose-cl end walls extending transversely between and foldably connected to said opposed side walls at opposite ends thereof, a central, multi-ply partition wall extending from end to end of said carton intermediate and paralleling said 1 side Willis, said partition wall extending between and foldably connected through some of its plies to said end Walls, spaced partition strips extending transversely between and foldably connected to each of said side walls and the respectively adjacent, outer plies of said partition wall intermediate said end walls, a two-ply handle extending from and foldably connected to the upper edges of inner plies of said partition wall, a generally rectangular cover flap on either side of said handle extending from and foldably connected along one edge to an intermediate ply of said partition wall, each of said cover flaps having an intermediate fold line paralleling said connected edge and slits extending inwardly from its outer edge, each slit being positioned so as to receive one of said partition strips when the outer end of its associated cover flap is inserted into the interior of said carrying carton along the adjacent side wall thereof, the lower edge of said partition wall terminating, at short distance above the lower edge of said side and end walls, said bottom wall being provided with aslot located centrally along said medial fold line, a locking member integrally connected in co-planar relation to and extending from said partition wall along the bottom edge thereof, said locking member having a head portion extending through said slot, said head portion having upper marginal edges which engage the lower surface of said bottom wall along saidmedial fold line at a pair of spaced points intermediate the ends thereof and adjacent to the lower edge of said partition wall, thereby maintaining said carrying carton in erected condition with the lower surface of said bottom wall in generally elevated position relative to the bottom edges of said side and end walls. v V

5. A collapsible carrying carton vformed from a single sheet'of paperboard material comprising a bottom wall having a medial fold line, opposed side walls foldably connected to said bottom wall along opposite ide edges thereof parallel to said medial fold line, opposed end walls extending transversely between and foldably connected-to said opposed side walls at opposite ends thereof, a central, multi-ply'p-artition wall extending from end to end of said carton intermediate and paralleling said side walls, said partition wall extending between and foldably connected through some of its, plies to said end walls, spaced partition strips extending transversely between and foldably connected to each of said side walls and the respectively adjacent, outer plies of said partition wall intermediate said end walls, a two-ply handle extending from and foldably connected to the upper edges of inner plies of said partition wall, a generally rectangular cover flap on either side of said handle extending from and foldably connected along one edge to an intermediate ply of said partition wall, each of said cover flaps being provided with slits extending inwardly from its outer edge, said cover flaps extending outwardly from said partition wall a greater distance than said handle, the slits on one cover'flap being slightly misaligned with respect to the slits. on the other cover ,ilap when the cover iiaps are extended in the plane of said partition wall so as to permit marginal portions pfsaicl coveriiaps adjacent said, slitsto interlock with each other for securing said cover flaps together, each slit on said cover flaps being positioned so as to receive one of said partition strips when the outer end of its associated cover flap is inserted into the interior of said carrying carton along the adjacent side wall thereof, and a locking member extending from the lower edge of said partition wall and engaging a portion of said bottom wall so as to maintain said carrying carton in erected condition.

6. A collapsible carrying carton formed from a single sheet of paperboard material comprising a bottom wall having a medial fold line, opposed side walls fol-dably connected to said bottom wall along opposite side edges thereof parallel to said medial fold line, opposed end walls extending transversely between and foldably connested to said opposed side walls at opposite ends thereof, a central, multi-ply partition wall extending from end to end of said carton intermediate and paralleling said side walls, said partition wall extending between and foldably connected through some of its plies to said end walls, spaced partition strips extending transversely between and foldabiy connected to each of said side walls and the respectively :adjacent, outer plies of said partition wall intermediate said end walls, a two-ply handle extending from and foldably connected to the upper edges of inner plies of said partition wall, a generally rectangular cover flap on either side of said handle extending from and foldably connected along one edge to an intermediate ply of said partition wall, each of said cover flap being provided with slits extending inwardly from its outer edge, said cover flaps extending outwardly from said partition wall a greater distancethan said handle, the slits on one cover flap being slightly misaligned with respect to the slits on. the other cover flap when the cover flaps are extended in the plane of said partition wall so as to permit marginal portions of said cover flaps adjacent said slits to interlock with each other for securing said cover flaps together, each slit on said cover flaps being positioned so as to receive one of said partition strips when the outer end of its associated cover flap is inserted into the interior of said carrying carton alongthe adjacent side wall thereof, the lower edge of said partition wall terminating a short distance above the lower edge of said side and end walls, said bottom wall being provided with a slot located centrally along said medial fold line, a locking member integrally connected in co-planar relation to and extending from said partition wall along the bottom edge thereof, said locking member having a head portion extending through said slot, said head portion having upper marginal edges which engage the lower surface of said bottom wall along said medial fold line at a pair of spaced points intermediate the ends thereof and adjacent to the lower edge of said partition wall, thereby maintaining said carrying carton in erected condition with the lower surface of said bottom wall in generally elevated position relative to the bottom edges of said side and end walls.

7. A collapsible carrying carton formed from a single sheet of paperboard material comprising a bottom wall having a medial fold line, opposed side walls foldably connected to said bottom wall along opposite side edges thereof parallel to said medial fold line, opposed end walls extending transversely between and foldably connected to said opposed side walls at opposite end thereof, a central, multi-ply partition wall extending from end to end of said carton intermediate and paralleling said side walls, each of said end walls being formed from a pair of generally co-planar end wall panels which extend from and foldably connect to adjacent ends of said opposed side walls, said partition wall being formed from an inner partition wall panel, a first and a second tab member, a pair of intermediate partition wall panels and a pair of outer partition wall reinforcing panels, said inner partition wall panel and said first tab member being foldably connected to and extending inwardly from the inner ends of the endnvall panels which form one of the end walls of said carton, said inner partition wallpanel andfii'st tab along and being adhesively joined in face-to-face relationship with the upper margin of said inner partition wall panel on the side thereof opposite to that which engages said first tab member, said intermediate partition wall being foldably connected to and extending inwardly from the inner ends of the end wall panels forming the other of said end walls, said intermediate partition wall panels overlying and adhesively attached to the outwardly facing surfaces of said adhesively joined inner partition wall and tab members, outer partition wall reinforcing panels overlying and adhesively attached to upper marginal portions of the outwardly facing surfaces of said intermediate partition wall panels, one of said outer partition wall reinforcing panels being foldably connected at one end to the outer end of said first tab member and the other of said outer partition wall reinforcing panels being fo1dably connected at one end to the end of said inner partition wall panel adjacent said first tab member, spaced partition strips extending transversely between and foldably connected to each of said-side walls and the respectively adjacent, outer partition wall reinforcing panels intermediate said end walls, a handle formed from two handle panels extending from and foldably connected to upper edges of inner plies of said partition wall, one of said handle panels being foldably connected to the upper edge of said second tab member and the other of said handle panels being foldably connected to the upper edge of said inner partition wall panel, said two handle panels lying in face-to-face relationship and being foldably attached along their upper edges, said handle panels being provided with aligned openings which provide a means for gripping said carton, the lower edge of said partition wall terminating a short distance above the lower edge of said side and end walls, said bottom wall being provided with a slot located along said medial fold line, a locking member integrally connected in co-planar relation to and extending from said partition wall along the bottom edge thereof, said locking member being formed from three similar superposed locking member sections, one of which extends from the inner partition wall panel and the other two of which extend from the lower edges of said intermediate partition wall panels, said locking member having a head portion extending through said slot, said head portion having upper marginal edges which engage the lower surface of said bottom wall along said medial fold line at points intermediate the ends thereof and adjacent to the lower edge of said partition wall, thereby maintaining the lower surface of said bottom wall in generally elevated position relative to the bottom edges of said side and end walls. 7

8. A collapsible carrying carton formed from a single sheet of paperboard material comprising a bottom wall having a medial fold line, opposed side walls foldably connected to said bottom wall along opposite side edges thereof parallel to said medial fold line, opposed end walls extending transversely between and foldably connected to said opposed side walls at opposite ends thereof, a central, mnlti-ply partition wall extending from end to end of said carton intermediate and paralleling said side walls, each of said end walls being formed from a pair of generally co-planar end wall panels which extend from and foldably connect to adjacent ends of said opposed side walls, said partition wall being formed from an inner partition wall panel, a first and a second tab member, a pair of intermediate partition wall panels and a pair of outer partition wall reinforcing panels, said inner partition wall panel and said first tab member being foldably connected to and extending inwardly from the inner ends of the end wall panels which form one of the end walls of said carton, said inner partition wall panel and first tab member being adhesively joined in face-to-face engagement, said second tab member extending longitudinally along and being adhesively joined in face-to-face 16 relationship with the upper margin of said inner partitiori wall panel on the side thereof opposite to that which engages said first tab member, said intermediate partition wall panels being foldably connected to and extending inwardly from the inner ends of the end wall panels forming the other of said end walls, said intermediate partition wall panels overlying and adhesively attached to the outwardly facing surfaces of said adhesively joined inner partition wall and tab members, said outer partition wall reinforcing panels overlying and adhesively attached to upper marginal portions of the outwardly facing surfaces of said intermediate partition wall panels, one of. said outer partition Wall reinforcing panels being foldably connected at one end to the outer end of said first tab member and the other of said outer partition wall reinforcing panels being foldably connected at one end to the end of said inner partition wall p'anel adjacent said first tab member, spaced partition strips extending transversely between and foldably connected to each of said side walls and the respectively adjacent, outer partition wall reinforcing panels intermediate said end walls, a handle formed from two handle panels extending from and foldably connected to upper edges of inner plies of said partition wall, one of said handle panels being foldably connected to the upper edge of said second tab member and the other of said handle panels being foldably connected to the upper edge of said inner partition wall panel, said two handle panels lying in face-to-face relationship and being foldably attached along their upper edges, said handle panels being provided with aligned openings which provide a means for gripping said carton, a cover flap extending from and foldably connected to the upper edge of each of the intermediate partition wall panels, each of said cover flaps having an intermediate fold line paralleling its inner connecting edge and slits extending inwardly from its outer edge, each slit being positioned so as to receive one of said partition strips when the outer end of its associated cover flap is inserted into the interior of said carryingcarton along the adjacent side wall thereof, the lower edge of said partition wall terminating a short distance above the lower edge of said side and end walls, said bottom wall being pro vided with a slot located along said medial fold line, a locking member integrally connected in co-planar relation to and extending from said partition wall along the bottom edge thereof, said locking member being formed from three similar superposed locking member sections, one section of which extends from the inner partition wall panel and the other two sections of which extend from the lower edges of said intermediate partition wall panels, said locking member having a head portion extending through said slot, said head portion having upper marginal edges which engage the lower surface of said bottom wall along said medial fold line at points intermediate the ends thereof and adjacent to the lower edge of said partition wall, thereby maintaining the lower surface of said bottom wall in generally elevated position relative to the bottom edges of said side and end walls.

9. A collapsible carrying carton formed from a single sheet of paperboard material comprising a bottom wall having a medial fold line, opposed side walls foldably connected to said bottom wall along opposite side edges thereof parallel to said medial fold line, opposed end walls extending transversely between and foldably connected to said opposed side walls at opposite ends thereof, a cen' tral, multi-ply partition wall extending from end to end of said carton intermediate and paralleling said side walls, each of said end walls being formed from a pair of generally co-planar end wall panels which extend from and foldably connect to adjacent ends of said opposed side walls, said partition wall being formed from an inner partition wall panel, a first and a second tab member, a pair of intermediate partition wall panels and a pair of outer partition wall reinforcing panels, said inner partition wall panels and said first tab member being foldably connected to and extending inwardly from the inner ends of'the end wall panels which form one of the end walls of said carton, said inner partition wall panel and first tab member being adhesively joined in face-to-face engagement, said second tab member extending longitudinally along and being adhesively joined in face-to-face relationship with the upper margin of said inner partition wall panel on the side thereof opposite to that which engages said first tab member, said intermediate partition wall panels being foldably connected to and extending inwardly from the inner ends of the end wall panels forming the other of said end walls, said intermediate partition wall panels overlying and adhesively attached to the outwardly facing surfaces of said adhesively joined inner partition wall and tab members, outer partition wall reinforcing panels overlying and adhesively attached to upper marginal portions of the outwardly facing surfaces of said intermediate partition wall panels, one of said outer partition wall reinforcing panels being foldably connected at one end to the outer end of said first tab member and the other of said outer partition wall reinforcing panels being foldaoly connected at one end to the end of said inner partition wall panels adjacent said first tab member, spaced partition strips extending transversely between and fold-ably connected to each of said side walls and the respectively adjacent, outer partition wall reinforcing panels intermediate said end walls, a handle formed from two handle panels extending from and foldably connected to upper edges of inner plies of said partition wall, one of said handle panels being foldably connected to the upper edge of said second tab member and the other of said handle panels being foldably connected to the upper edge of said inner partition wall panel, said two handle panels lying in face-to-face relationship and being foldably attached along their upper edges, said handle panels being provided with aligned openings which provide a means for gripping said carton, a generally rectangular cover flap extending from and foldably connected to the upper edge of each of the intermediate partition wall panels, each of said cover flaps having an intermediate fold line paralleling its inner connecting edge and slits extending inwardly from its outer edges, said cover flaps extending outwardly from said partition wall a greater distance than said handle, the slits on one cover flap being slightly misaligned with respect to the slits on the other cover flap when the cover flaps are extended in the plane of said partition wall so as to permit marginal portions of said cover flaps adjacent said slits to interlock with each other for securing said cover flaps together, each slit on said cover flaps being positioned so as to receive one of said partition strips when the outer end of its associated cover flap is inserted into the interior of said carrying carton along the adjacent side wall thereof, the lower edge of said partition wall terminating a short distance above the lower edge of said side and end walls, said bottom wall being provided with a slot located along said medial fold line, a locking member integrally con- 12 nected in co-planar relationto and extending from said partition wall along the bottom edge thereof, said locking member being formed from three similar superposed locking member sections, one of which extends from the inner partition wall panel and the other two of which extend from the lower edges of said intermediate partition wall panels,-said locking member having a head portion extending through said slot, said head portion having upper marginal edges which engage the lower surface of said bottom wall along said medial fold line at a pair of spaced points intermediate the ends thereof and adjacent to the lower edge of said partition wall, thereby maintain ing said carrying carton in erected condition with the lower surface of said bottom wall in generally elevated position relative to the bottom edges of said side and end walls.

10. A collapsible carrying carton formed from a single sheet of paperboard material comprising a bottom wall, opposed side walls foldably connected to said bottom wall along opposite edges thereof, opposed end walls extending transversely between and foldably connected to said opposed side walls at opposite ends thereof, a central, mnlti-ply partition wall intermediate and paralleling said side walls, said partition wall extending between and foldably connected throughsome of its plies to said end walls, spaced partition strips extending transversely between and foldably connected to each of said side walls and the respectively adjacent, outer plies of said partition wall intermediate said end walls, a two-ply handle extending from and foldably connected to the upper edges of inner plies of said partition wall, a cover flap on each side of said two-ply handle extending from and foldably connected to an intermediate ply of said partition wall, each of said cover flaps being provided with slits extending inwardly from its outer edge, each slit being positioned so as to receive one of said partition strips when the outer end of its associated cover flap is inserted into the interior of said carrying carton along the adjacent side wall thereof, the lower edge of said partition wall terminating a short distance above the lower edges of said side and end walls, said bottom wall being provided with a slot underlying a portion of said partition wall, and a locking member extending from the bottom edge of said partition wall, said locking member extending through said slot and engaging said bottom wall to hold the latter in generally elevated position relative to the bottom edges of said side and end walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,097,941 Wells Nov. 2, 1937 2,263,455 Coyle Nov. 18, 1941 2,458,281 Lupton Jan. 4, 1949 2,525,686" Kowal Oct. 10, 1950 2,574,461 Bolding Nov. 13, 1951 2,598,920 Keith June 3, i952 2,660,361 Tyrseck Nov. 24, 1953 2,673,677 Ringler Mar. 30, 1954 

